Martina Devlin: City of Literature title is an asset we can bank on

LITERATURE is a lengthy conversation which has preoccupied us here in Ireland since ancient times - since the days of the seanchai, the druids and the Celtic warriors whose exploits fuse history and mythology. It's our weapon of mass distraction.

LITERATURE is a lengthy conversation which has preoccupied us here in Ireland since ancient times - since the days of the seanchai, the druids and the Celtic warriors whose exploits fuse history and mythology. It's our weapon of mass distraction.

But literature also helps to define us. It characterises us to ourselves and to others, building a bridge to the international community. Through our literature, we shape how the outside world views us.

This is important because we need others to do business within export markets, and to bring their spending power here as tourists. We cannot extricate ourselves from this financial crisis alone.

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